System for coordinating milling and paving machines

ABSTRACT

A system for coordinating a cold planer and a paver is disclosed. The system may include a first sensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a position of the cold planer; a production monitoring system associated with the cold planer and configured to determine a milling rate of the cold planer; a communication device configured to exchange information between the cold planer and the paver; and a controller. The controller may be configured to receive a second signal indicative of a position of the paver and a third signal indicative of a paving rate of the paver, determine a current distance between the cold planer and the paver based on the first and second signals, determine a target distance based on the current distance and a comparison of the milling rate and the paving rate, and determine a difference between the target distance and the current distance.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a Reissue of U.S. patent application Ser. No.14/965,618, filed on Dec. 10, 2015, and issued as U.S. Pat. No.9,879,386 on Jan. 30, 2018, which is incorporated herein by reference inits entirety.

TECHNICAL NEED

The present disclosure relates generally to a control system and, moreparticularly, to a control system for coordinating milling and pavingmachines.

BACKGROUND

Asphalt-surfaced roadways are built to facilitate vehicular travel.Depending upon usage density, base conditions, temperature variation,moisture levels, and/or physical age, the surfaces of the roadwayseventually become misshapen and unable to support wheel loads. In orderto rehabilitate the roadways for continued vehicular use, spent asphaltis removed in preparation for resurfacing.

Cold planers, sometimes also called road mills or scarifiers, are usedto break up and remove layers of an asphalt roadway during a resurfacingoperation. A cold planer typically includes a frame propelled by trackedor wheeled drive units. The frame supports an engine, an operator'sstation, a milling drum, and conveyors. The milling drum, fitted withcutting bits, is rotated through a suitable interface with the engine tobreak up the surface of the roadway. The broken up roadway material isdeposited by the milling drum onto the conveyors, which transfer thebroken up material into haul trucks for removal from the worksite. Apaving machine follows behind the cold planer at a desired distance andcovers the milled surface with fresh asphalt. Haul trucks carryingfresh, hot asphalt from a plant periodically pass between the pavingmachine and the cold planer to deliver additional asphalt to the pavingmachine. This process repeats until the resurfacing operation isfinished.

After its production, fresh asphalt gradually cools until it iseventually laid onto the milled roadway surface. If too much time passesbetween its production and its use on the roadway, the fresh asphalt cancool to temperatures at which it becomes brittle and unworkable. Thus,supervisors of a resurfacing operation may wish to coordinate deliveriesof fresh asphalt with actual rates of asphalt usage by the payingmachine to minimize cooling time and wasted asphalt. However, when thecold planer ahead of the paving machine stops during operation, such asto wait for an empty haul truck or when cutting bits on its milling drumneed replaced, the paving machine may be required to slow or stop itsoperations, during which time the fresh asphalt may fall below itsusable temperature.

One attempt to coordinate milling and paving operations is disclosed inU.S. Pat. No. 7,549,821 B2 that issued to Hall et al. on Jun. 23, 2009(“the '821 patent”). In particular, the '821 patent discloses a pavementrecycling machine for breaking up used pavement from a surface, mixingthe broken-up pavement with other materials, and reapplying the mixtureto the surface. The machine includes a frame that supports an engine forpowering a hydraulic system. The hydraulic system drives tractiondevices for moving the machine and rotary mill heads for breaking uppavement on the surface of a roadway. The broken-up pavement may bemixed with rejuvenation materials and/or supplementary aggregatematerials before being dispensed via an outlet onto the surface of theroadway, leveled, and tamped. A closed loop control system having anumber of sensors monitors and controls operating parameters of themachine based on parameter set points and feedback signals from thesensors. The sensors generate signals indicative of the machineposition, machine speed, position and rotational speed of the rotarymill heads, pavement temperature, rejuvenation material temperature, andscreed settings.

While the system of the '821 patent may allow for some coordination ofmilling and paving processes, it may not be applicable to resurfacingoperations having separate milling and paving machines and where freshasphalt is prepared at a location away from the jobsite.

The control system of the present disclosure solves one or more of theproblems set forth above and/or other problems in the art.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, the present disclosure is related to a system forcoordinating a cold planer and a paver. The system may include a firstsensor configured to generate a first signal indicative of a position ofthe cold planer, a production monitoring system associated with the coldplaner and configured to determine a milling rate of the cold planer, acommunication device configured to exchange information between the coldplaner and the paver, and a controller in electronic communication withthe first sensor, the production monitoring system, and thecommunication device. The controller may be configured to receive, viathe communication device, a second signal indicative of a position ofthe paver and a third signal indicative of a paving rate of the paver.The controller may also be configured to determine a current distancebetween the cold planer and the paver based on the first and secondsignals, determine a target distance between the cold planer and thepaver based on the current distance and a comparison of the milling rateand the paving rate, and determine a difference between the targetdistance and the current distance.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is related to a method ofcoordinating a cold planer and a paver. The method may include receivinga first signal indicative of a position of the cold planer, determininga milling rate of the cold planer via a production monitoring systemassociated with the cold planer, and receiving, via a communicationdevice, a first signal indicative of a position of the paver and asecond signal indicative of a paving rate of the paver. The method mayfurther include determining a current distance between the cold planerand the paver based on the position of the cold planer and the positionof the paver, determining a target distance between the cold planer andthe paver based on the current distance and a comparison of the millingrate and the paving rate, and determining a difference between thetarget distance and the current distance.

In yet another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a coldplaner. The cold planer may include a frame, a milling drum connected tothe frame, a conveyor pivotally connected to the frame and configured toload milled material into a receptacle, a first sensor configured togenerate a first signal indicative of a position of the cold planer, aproduction monitoring system associated with the cold planer andconfigured to determine a milling rate of the cold planer, a displaydevice positioned within an operator station of the cold planer, acommunication device configured to exchange information between the coldplaner and the paver, and a controller in electronic communication withthe first sensor, the production monitoring system, and thecommunication device. The controller may be configured to receive, viathe communication device, a second signal indicative of a position ofthe paver and a third signal indicative of a paving rate of the paver,determine a current distance between the cold planer and the paver basedon the first and second signals, determine a target distance between thecold planer and the paver based on the current distance and a comparisonof the milling rate and the paving rate, determine a difference betweenthe target distance and the current distance, and generate a graphicaluser interface on the display device indicative of the differencebetween the target distance and the current distance between the coldplaner and the paver.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a pictorial illustration of an exemplary jobsite of aresurfacing operation having an exemplary disclosed cold planer and apaving machine;

FIG. 2 is a cutaway view illustration of the cold planer of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic illustration of an exemplary disclosed system amay be used to coordinate operations of the cold planer and pavingmachine of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

For the purpose of this disclosure, the term “asphalt” is defined as amixture of aggregate and asphalt cement. Asphalt cement is abrownish-black solid or semi-solid mixture of bitumens obtained as abyproduct of petroleum distillation. The asphalt cement can be heatedand mixed with the aggregate for use in paving roadway surfaces, wherethe mixture hardens upon cooling. A “cold planer” is defined as amachine used to remove layers of hardened asphalt from an existingroadway. It is contemplated that the disclosed cold planer may also oralternatively be used to remove cement and other roadway surfaces, or toremove non-roadway surface material such as in a mining operation.

FIG. 1 shows a cold planer 10 employed at a worksite 12, such as, forexample, a roadway resurfacing operation. As part of the resurfacingoperation, cold planer 10 may mill a surface 14 of the roadway andtransfer milled material into one or more first haul trucks 16 (only oneshown). When full, haul trucks 16 may depart from cold planer 10 todeliver the milled material to a storage site (not shown), and an emptyhaul truck 16 may approach cold planer 10 to replace a full haul truck16 to allow for a continuous milling process.

A paving machine (“paver”) 18 may follow behind cold planer 10 anddeposit a layer of paving material, such as fresh asphalt, onto surface14 after it has been milled by cold planer 10. One or more second haultrucks 20 (only one shown) may periodically pass between paver 18 andcold planer 10 to deliver additional fresh asphalt to paver 18 to allowfor a continuous paving process. Additional haul trucks 20 containingfresh asphalt may be summoned from an asphalt plant (not shown) ordispatch facility when it is determined that additional asphalt isneeded.

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary cold planer 10 having a frame 22supported by one or more traction devices 24, a milling drum 26rotationally supported under a belly of frame 22, and an engine 28mounted to frame 22 and configured to drive milling drum 26 and tractiondevices 24. Traction devices 24 may include either wheels or tracksconnected to actuators 30 that are adapted to controllably raise andlower frame 22 relative to surface 14. It should be noted that, in thedisclosed embodiment, raising and lowering of frame 22 may also functionto vary a milling depth of milling drum 26 into surface 14. In someembodiments, the same or different actuators 30 may also be used tosteer cold planer 10 and or to adjust a travel speed of traction devices24 (e.g., to speed up or brake traction devices 24), if desired. Aconveyor system 32 may be pivotally connected at a leading end to frame22 and configured to transport material away from milling drum 26 andinto a receptacle, such as a haul truck 16 (referring to FIG. 1). Othertypes of receptacles may be used, if desired.

Frame 22 may also support an operator station 34. Operator station 34may house any number of interface devices 36 used to control cold planer10. In the disclosed example, interface devices 36 may include, amongother things, a display 38, a warning device 40, and an input device 42(38-42 shown only in FIG. 3). In other embodiments, operator station 34may be off-board cold planer 10. For example, operator station 34 mayembody a remote control, such as a handheld controller, a cellularphone, a tablet, a laptop computer, or any other type of mobile devicethat an operator may use to control cold planer 10 from anywhere on oraway from worksite 12. Operator station 34 may alternatively embody asoftware program and a user interface for a computer, and may include acombination of hardware and software. In other embodiments, cold planer10 may be autonomous and may not include operator station 34.

Referring to FIG. 3, display 38 may be configured to render the locationof cold planer 10 (e.g., of milling drum 26) relative to features of thejobsite (e.g., milled and/or unmilled parts of surface 14), and todisplay data and/or other information to the operator. Warning device 40may be configured to audibly and/or visually alert the operator of coldplaner 10 as to a proximity of milling drum 26 to the worksite features,and/or when certain pieces of data exceed an associated threshold. Inputdevice 42 may be configured to receive data and/or control instructionsfrom the operator of cold planer 10. Other interface devices (e.g.,control devices) may also be possible, and one or more of the interfacedevices described above could be combined into a single interfacedevice, if desired.

Input device 42 may be, for example, an analog input device thatreceives control instructions via one or more buttons, switches, dials,levers, etc. Input device 42 may also or alternatively include digitalcomponents, such as one or more soft keys, touch screens, and/or visualdisplays. Input device 42 may be configured to generate one or moresignals indicative of various parameters associated with cold planer 10and/or its surrounding environment based on input received from theoperator.

Referring again to FIG. 2, conveyor system 32 may include a firstconveyor 46 adjacent milling drum 26 that is configured to transfermilled material to a second conveyor 48. Conveyor 48 may be pivotallyattached to frame 22 so that the height at which milled material leavesconveyor 48 can be adjusted. That is, a pivotal orientation of conveyor48 in the vertical direction may be adjusted to raise and lower conveyor48. Conveyor 48 may also be pivotally attached to frame 22 so that thelateral location at which milled material leaves conveyor 48 may beadjusted. That is, a pivotal orientation of conveyor 48 in thehorizontal direction may be adjusted to move conveyor 48 from side toside.

Conveyors 46 and 48 may each include a belt 50 that is supported on aplurality of roller assemblies 52 and driven by a motor 54. Motor 54 mayembody, for example, a hydraulic motor 54 powered by a hydraulic system(not shown). In other embodiments, motor 54 may be an electric motor oranother type of motor. Motor 54 may be powered by engine 28 or byanother power source.

As illustrated in FIG. 3, a control system 56 may be associated withcold planer 10 and include elements that cooperate to monitor andanalyze the transfer of milled material into haul truck 16 andfacilitate communication between cold planer 10 and paver 18 and/orbetween cold planer 10 and haul trucks 16, 20. For example, elements ofcontrol system 56 may cooperate to determine a milling rate of coldplaner 10. The milling rate of cold planer 10 may be a mass flow rate inand/or a volume flow rate {dot over (V)} of milled material beingdischarged by cold planer 10 into haul truck 16. The milling rate may bedetermined with respect to time, distance, or another referenceparameter, as desired. Control system 56 may also be configured todetermine a total amount (e.g., a total weight W or total volume V) ofmaterial that has been milled and/or transferred over a period ofmilling time, a fill level Σ of haul truck 16, an amount of remainingtime T_(F) until haul truck 16 is full, and/or other statisticalinformation.

Elements of control system 56 may include interface devices 36, a speedsensor 58, a depth sensor 59, one or more material measurement sensors60a-c (“sensors”), a locating device 62, a bit wear sensor 64, acommunication device 66, and a controller 44 electronically connectedwith each of the other elements. Elements of control system 56 may beconfigured to generate signals indicative of operating parametersassociated with cold planer 10 that may be used by controller 44 forfurther processing. Information, including the mass flow rate {dot over(m)}, volume flow rate {dot over (V)}, total weight W, total volume V,fill level Σ and remaining time T_(F) may be shown to the operator ofcold planer 10 via display 38 and used by the operator and/or controller44 to regulate operating parameters of cold planer 10 (e.g., travelspeed, drum rotational speed, milling depth, milling rate, etc.) and/orto dispatch haul trucks 16, 20. This information and/or other data maybe sent off-board cold planer 10 via communication device 66 for use byoperators of paver 18 or haul trucks 16, 20, jobsite management, and/orfor back office analysis.

Controller 44 may be configured to determine the fill level Σ of haultruck 16 based on the mass flow rate fit, volume flow rate {dot over(V)}, and/or the total weight W or volume V of the milled material inconjunction with known features of haul truck 16 (e.g., geometry,volumetric capacity, shape, tare weight, weight limit, etc.). Using thisinformation and the signals from one or more of sensors 60a-c,controller 44 may be configured to determine the remaining time T_(F)until haul truck 16 is full (i.e., reaches a threshold, reaches adesired fill level, etc.). For example, controller 44 may compare themass flow rate {dot over (m)}, volume flow rate {dot over (V)}, totalweight W, and/or fill level Σ to a weight limit, volumetric capacity,and/or target fill level of haul truck 16 over a period of conveyingtime, and determine how much time remains until transport vehicle willbecome full. This information may be used to determine when to dispatchempty haul trucks 16 to cold planer 10 or full haul trucks 20 carryingfresh paving material to paver 18.

Speed sensor 58 may be configured to generate a signal indicative of alinear belt speed of belt 50. For example, speed sensor 58 may be ashaft-driven sensor that is attached to a pulley 68 of conveyor system32. Pulley 68 may be in contact with belt 50 and may be driven by motor54 (referring to FIG. 2). Pulley 68 may alternatively be a free-wheelingpulley, such as an idler, tensioner, or other type of pulley. Speedsensor 58 may alternatively be attached directly to a shaft of motor 54,and its signal may also be indicative of the speed of motor 54. In someembodiments, multiple speed sensors 58 may be utilized and their outputsprocessed by controller 44 in order to reduce inaccuracies caused byslipping of belt 50. Speed sensor 58 may detect the speed of a shaft orwheel using magnetic, optical, pulsating, or other type of sensingelement. Signals generated by speed sensor 58 may be communicated tocontroller 44 and used for further processing.

Depth sensor 59 may be configured to generate a signal indicative of adepth D of milling drum 26 below surface 14. That is, depth sensor 59may generate a signal indicative of the cutting depth of cold planer 10.In some embodiments, depth sensor 59 may be associated with actuators 30and configured to generate a signal that may be used by controller 44 todetermine the depth D based on the position of actuators 30 inconjunction with known information (e.g., known offsets between frame 22and milling drum 26). In other embodiments, depth sensor 59 may beconfigured to generate a signal indicative of a relative position ofmilling drum 26 with respect to frame 22 or another reference componentof cold planer 10.

Sensors 60a-c may include one or more sensors and/or systems of sensorsconfigured to generate signals indicative of an amount of material beingmilled and/or transferred into haul truck 16 via conveyor 48. Forexample, sensor 60a may be a belt scale. That is, sensor 60a may includea force transducer that is configured to measure a normal force appliedto belt 50 by the weight of material on conveyor 48. The signalgenerated by sensor 60a may be utilized by controller 44 in conjunctionwith the signal generated by speed sensor 58 and/or other sensors (e.g.,an inclinometer) to determine the mass flow rate it and/or a volume flowrate {dot over (V)} of milled material being transferred into haul truck16.

Sensor 60b may be configured to generate a signal indicative of anoperating parameter that can be used to determine how much power is usedto drive conveyor 48. For example, sensor 60b may be configured tomeasure a hydraulic pressure differential, an electrical voltage, oranother parameter of motor 54. The signal generated by sensor 60b may beutilized by controller 44 in conjunction with other parameters (e.g.,hydraulic fluid flow rate, motor speed, motor displacement, electricalresistance, electrical current, etc.) to determine the power used todrive conveyor 48. The power used to drive conveyor 48, along with otherparameters (e.g., the size and speed of pulley 68, angle of inclinationof conveyor 48, etc.) may be utilized by controller 44 to determine themilling rate (e.g., mass flow rate {dot over (m)} and/or a volume flowrate {dot over (V)}) of cold planer 10.

Sensor 60c may embody a sensor or system that is configured to determinethe amount of material being transferred by conveyor 48 withoutcontacting any moving parts of conveyor 48. For example, sensor 60c mayinclude a radioactive detection system, a laser scanning system, anoptical scanner, a camera, an ultrasonic sensor, or another type ofsensor that is configured to generate a signal indicative of a length(e.g., a width, a height, a depth, etc.), an area, or a volume ofmaterial milled by milling drum 26. Other types of sensors or sensingsystems may be used, if desired. Signals generated by sensors 60a-c maybe utilized by controller 44 in conjunction with other parameters (e.g.,belt speed) to determine the milling rate of cold planer 10 (e.g., massflow rate {dot over (m)} and/or a volume flow rate {dot over (V)} ofmilled material).

Locating device 62 may be configured to generate a signal indicative ofa geographical position of the cold planer 10 relative to a localreference point, a coordinate system associated with the work area, acoordinate system associated with Earth, or any other type of 2-D or 3-Dcoordinate system. For example, locating device 62 may embody anelectronic receiver configured to communicate with one or moresatellites, or a local radio or laser transmitting system used todetermine a relative geographical location of itself. Locating device 62may receive and analyze high-frequency, low-power radio or laser signalsfrom multiple locations to triangulate a relative 3-D geographicalposition. A signal indicative of this geographical position may then becommunicated from locating device 62 to controller 44.

Bit wear sensor 64 may be configured to detect when one or more cuttingbits 65 attached to milling drum 26 exceed a wear threshold. Cuttingbits 65 may be configured to emit at least one signal via one or moretransmitters 67 disposed within each cutting bit 65. Transmitters 67 maybe sacrificial components disposed within cutting bit 65 at a depthbelow an outer surface such that transmitters 67 remain intact and emita signal until cutting bit 65 becomes worn (i.e., wears beyond thethreshold). When cutting bit 65 exceeds the wear threshold, transmitters67 may become exposed. Once exposed, transmitters 67 may be destroyedand stop emitting signals or fall out of cutting bit 65. Eachtransmitter 67 may be, for example, a radio frequency identification(RFID) tag that emits a signal indicative of an ID. Bit wear sensor 64may be configured to detect the signal emitted by each transmitter andcommunicate the signals to controller 44. Transmitter 67 may be anothertype of transmitter capable of generating a signal from within cuttingbit 65, if desired.

Communication device 66 may include hardware and/or software thatenables sending and receiving of data messages between controller 44 andan off-board entity. The data messages may be sent and received via adirect data link and/or a wireless communication link, as desired. Thedirect data link may include an Ethernet connection, a connected areanetwork (CAN), or another data link known in the art. The wirelesscommunications may include one or more of satellite, cellular,Bluetooth, WiFi, infrared, and any other type of wireless communicationsthat enables communication device 66 to exchange information.

Communication device 66 may be configured to communicate with paver 18via a communication device 70 electronically connected to a controller72 of paver 18. In this way, controller 44 of cold planer 10 may beconfigured to receive inputs and other information from controller 72 ofpaver 18. Such inputs may include, for example, one or more signalsindicative of a position of paver 18, a paving rate of paver 18, anamount of available paving material for use by paver 18, an amount ofavailable paving time, and or other information relating to the pavingprocess being carried out by paver 18. For instance, paver 18 mayinclude a locating device 74 configured to generate a signal indicativeof the position of paver 18. The signal generated by locating device 74may be indicative of an absolute position (e.g., a GPS coordinatelocation) or a relative distance (e.g., based on a laser-, anultrasonic-, or a radio-based measurement system) between cold planer 10and paver 18.

Paver 18 may also include one or more sensors 76 configured to generatesignals indicative of parameters that may be used to determine thepaving rate of paver 18. Sensors 76 may include, for example, positionsensors associated with components of a screed 78 attached to paver 18.The signals generated by sensors 76 may be indicative of or used todetermine the height of screed 78 above surface 14, the width of screed78, and/or the angle of one or more screed plates with respect tosurface 14. Based on these signals and in conjunction with otherinformation (e.g., the groundspeed of paver 18, the density of thepaving material, etc.), controller 72 or controller 44 may be configuredto determine the paving rate (e.g., volumetric flow rate, mass flowrate, etc.) of paver 18. The paving rate of paver 18 may be an amount ofpaving material (e.g., a weight, a mass, a volume, etc.) laid down onsurface 14 with respect to a reference parameter, such as time ordistance.

The amount of available paving material may be an amount of pavingmaterial available within a hopper 80 of paver 18, material availablewithin haul truck 20 (referring to FIG. 1), or material available from apaving material plant for a given period, such as a particular day,shift, or project. In some cases, the amount of available material maybe transmitted to paver 18 from a communication device at the plant,which may then be transmitted to cold planer 10. In other cases, theamount of available paving material may be transmitted directly to coldplaner 10.

The amount of available paving time may be determined by worksitepersonnel or dictated by job constraints, such as an amount of timeallotted by a customer or regulatory body. For example, paving time maybe limited to time between morning and evening rush hours, off-peakusage times, daylight or nighttime hours, etc. The amount of availablepaving time may be entered via an interface device 82 associated withpaver 18, via interface device 36 of cold planer, or provided by anoff-board entity, such as an off-board computer 84. Other operatingparameters of paver 18, such as a ground speed, a heading, anoperational status (e.g., running, stopped, malfunctioning, etc.), orother information may also be communicated from paver 18 to cold. planer10.

It is noted that any information provided to cold planer 10 viacommunication device 66 may alternatively be provided by off-boardcomputer 84. For instance, any information generate by paver 18, such asthe position, paving rate, and speed of paver 18, may be communicatedfrom paver 18 to off-board computer 84, and then from off-board computer84 to cold planer 10. Other information relating to the paving process,such as the amount of available paving time and material, the density ofthe paving material, jobsite plans, etc., may also or alternatively beprovided to cold planer 10 directly from off-board computer 84.Off-board computer 84 may be any type of back office computer, laptopcomputer, cellular phone, personal digital assistant, tablet, dedicatedhardware device, or other type of stationary or mobile computing deviceconfigured to communicate information via a wired or wirelessconnection.

Controller 44 may embody a single microprocessor or multiplemicroprocessors that include a means for monitoring operator and sensorinput, and responsively adjusting operational characteristics of coldplaner 10 based on the input. For example, controller 44 may include amemory, a secondary storage device, a clock, and a processor, such as acentral processing unit or any other means for accomplishing a taskconsistent with the present disclosure. Numerous commercially availablemicroprocessors can be configured to perform the functions of controller44. It should be appreciated that controller 44 could readily embody ageneral machine controller capable of controlling numerous other machinefunctions. Various other known circuits may be associated withcontroller 44, including signal-conditioning circuitry, communicationcircuitry, and other appropriate circuitry. Controller 44 may be furthercommunicatively coupled with an external computer system, instead of orin addition to including a computer system, as desired.

Controller 44 may be configured to help ensure that any portions ofsurface 14 that are milled by cold planer 10 can be paved by paver 18within the constraints of the resurfacing operation. For instance,controller 44 may be configured. to help ensure that cold planer 10operates at a far enough distance ahead of paver 18 to allow paver 18 tooperate at its desired paving rate without interruption, while alsoensuring that cold planer 10 does not mill more of surface 14 than canbe repaved with the time and material available for that day or thatjob. For example, personnel may wish to operate paver 18 at a generallyconstant paving rate, which may require that enough space between paver18 and cold planer 10 be available to allow cold planer 10 to operateand perform maintenance functions, such as periodically changing wornout cutting bits 65, without slowing down paver 18. But if too great ofa distance is maintained, paver 18 may not have enough paving materialor time available to pave the space between it and cold planer 10.

To help control the distance between paver 18 and cold planer 10 duringthe resurfacing operation, controller 44 may be configured to firstdetermine a current distance D_(C) between cold planer 10 and paver 18.Controller 44 may determine the current distance D_(C) based on thesignals from locating devices 62 and 74. For instance, controller 44 maybe configured to compute a distance between cold planer 10 and paver 18based on their respective GPS locations. In other embodiments, coldplaner 10 and paver 18 may begin the operation at a known distanceapart, and controller 44 may be configured to track a difference ingroundspeed between cold planer 10 and paver 18 over a period ofoperating time. Based on the difference, controller 44 may be configuredto compute a relative distance between cold planer 10 and paver 18 asthe current distance D_(C).

Controller 44 may be configured to then determine a target distanceD_(T) between cold planer 10 and paver 18 based on the current distanceD_(C) and a comparison of the milling rate and the paving rate. Forinstance, when paver 18 is paving at a known rate, for example, of 200tons per hour, while cold planer 10 is milling at a rate of 200 tons perhour, the production rates of cold planer 10 and paver 18 may be thesame. But when cold planer stops to wait for an empty haul truck 16 orto undergo a maintenance procedure (e.g., cutting bit replacement,refueling, oiling, etc.), paver 18 may continue paving and reduce thedistance between it and cold planer 10. The rate at which the distancebetween cold planer 10 and paver 18 increases or decreases may changebased on the difference between the paving rate and the milling rate.That is, when the milling rate is greater than the paving rate, thedistance between cold planer 10 and paver 18 may increase when bothmachines are operating. Conversely, when the milling rate is less thanthe paving rate, the distance between cold planer 10 and paver 18 maydecrease when both machines are operating.

Controller 44 may track the position of cold planer 10 and paver 18 inconjunction with the milling rate and the paving rate, respectively, todetermine the rate at which the current distance D_(C) changes withrespect to the difference between the milling rate and the paving rate.In this way, controller 44 may be configured to determine changes in thecurrent distance D_(C) when both machines are running, as well as whenthe operation of either cold planer 10 or paver 18 has been paused.Based on the rate of change of the current distance D_(C) between coldplaner 10 and paver 18 and on other known information, controller 44 maydetermine the target distance D_(T). Other known information that mayaffect the determination of the target distance D_(T) may include, forexample, a desired minimum distance or minimum time gap, an amount oftime required to perform a maintenance operation, an amount of timeuntil a next empty haul truck 16 will arrive, and/or other information.

For example, controller 44 may be configured to determine the targetdistance D_(T) based on one or more operating parameters of cold planer10 that change over time and require cold planer 10 to periodically stopfor maintenance, inspection, repair, or other procedures. Controller 44may then determine an amount of remaining time T_(T) until the operatingparameters reach a threshold and determine the target distance D_(T)based on the amount of remaining time T_(T). For instance, as describedabove, cutting bits 65 may be periodically inspected and/or replaced bypersonnel, which requires cold planer 10 to stop milling for a period oftime. To ensure that a sufficient distance between paver 18 and coldplaner 10 is maintained while cold planer 10 is stopped, controller 44may determine the target distance D_(T) based on how much time remainsuntil maintenance is expected to be needed and an amount of timerequired to inspect and/or replace cutting bits 65.

Controller 44 may be configured to determine how much time remains untilmaintenance is needed by tracking the signals generated by transmitters67 that are detected by bit wear sensor 64 over time. For instance,signals detected by bit wear sensor 64 may be indicative of wear levelsof cutting bits 65 that change over time, from which controller 44 canextrapolate the amount of time T_(T) until the cutting bits 65 will befully worn. The amount of time required to inspect and/or replace theworn cutting bits 65 may be a predetermined or estimated amount of timestored in the memory of controller 44, which may also be increased ordecreased based on a number of cutting bits 65 that require inspectionor replacement, as determined by the signals received from bit wearsensor 64.

Controller 44 may also or alternatively consider other operatingparameters when determining the target distance D_(T), if desired. Forexample, controller 44 may receive signals from other sensors associatedwith cold planer 10, such as a fuel level sensor, an oil level sensor,an oil pressure sensor, a coolant temperature sensor, and/or othersensors. Controller 44 may track the signals generated by one or more ofthese other sensors over time and extrapolate the amount of timeremaining T_(T) until those parameters reach a threshold at whichmaintenance procedures associated with the detected parameters arerequired. Such procedures may include, for example, a refuelingprocedure, an oiling procedure, a repair procedure, or anothermaintenance task. Controller 44 may also account for the required timeto carry out these procedures based on known time values stored withinits memory or entered by personnel via interface device 36.

After determining the current distance D_(C) and the target distanceD_(T), controller 44 may determine a difference between the currentdistance D_(C) and the target distance D_(T) and generate a controlsignal based on the difference. The control signal may be configured toconvey information to an operator, initiate an automated controlprocess, or perform another type of operation. For example, in responseto the control signal, controller 44 may be configured to generate agraphical user interface 86 having graphical objects that are indicativeof the difference between the current distance D_(C) and the targetdistance D_(T) and show graphical user interface 86 to an operator viadisplay 38. In this way, controller 44 may allow the operator tovisualize the extent to which cold planer 10 should slow down or speedup in order to achieve the target distance D_(T). The operator may thenbe able to manually adjust the speed, and thus the milling rate, of coldplaner 10 as needed in order to achieve the target distance D_(T). Insome embodiments, the control signal may be directed to one or moreactuators (e.g., actuators 30) to cause automatic adjustments of thespeed and/or milling rate of cold planer 10 to achieve the targetdistance D_(T).

Controller 44 may also be configured to determine the target distanceD_(T) and/or other information based on an amount of space on surface 14that has been milled but is yet to be paved by paver 18. Suchinformation may be used by controller 44 to determine how much freshpaving material and how much time (i.e., in conjunction with the knownpaving rate of paver 18) is needed to replace the material removed fromsurface 14 by cold planer 10. Controller 44 may use this information todetermine and/or control the target distance D_(T) by setting thresholddistances based on how much paving work can be accomplished using thematerial and time allotted to the resurfacing project.

For example, controller 44 may be configured to generate a model of thespace to be filled by paver 18 based on the depth D of milling drum 26,a width of the milling drum, and the position of cold planer 10 over aperiod of milling time. That is, controller 44 may continually track thedepth D of milling drum 26 and multiply the depth D by the width ofmilling drum 26, which may be a known value stored within memory, tocontinually determine a cut area of milling drum 26. The cut area may bemultiplied by a change in travel distance of cold planer 10, asdetermined by the difference between a first and a subsequent locationsignal generated by locating device 62, in order to determine a cutvolume. Iterative calculations of the cut volume may be performed over aperiod of milling time and compiled with respect to the location of coldplaner 10 to generate a volumetric model of the space milled by coldplaner 10, which is to be filled by paver 18. The model may beindicative of the total volume of space to be paved and include detaileddepth and width data along the length of the modeled space.

Based on the model, controller 44 may be configured to determine anamount of paving material required to fill the space to be paved bypaver 18 as well as an amount of time required to do so. For instance,by multiplying the total volume of the modeled space by a known pavingmaterial density, controller 44 may be configured to determine theamount of material (e.g., by weight) required to pave the space milledby cold planer 10. Controller 44 may also be configured to divide thetotal amount of material required to pave the space by the paving rateof paver 18 to determine the amount of time required to pave the spacemilled by cold planer 10. Other ways of determining the required amountof paving material and paving time may be possible.

As discussed above, controller 44 may also receive signals viacommunication device 66 that are indicative of an amount of availablepaving material and an amount of available paving time. The amount ofavailable paving material and available paving time may be actual orimposed limitations on material and time for a given period, such as aparticular shift, day, or job. Using this information, controller 44 maybe configured to then determine a difference between the amount ofrequired paving material and the amount of available paving material, aswell as a difference between the required paving time and the availablepaving time. Controller 44 may then generate a control signal based onone or more of these differences to ensure the target distance D_(T) ismaintained and/or to ensure that surface 14 is milled only to the extentthat it can be repaved in the time available.

For example, controller 44 may track the total amount of material milledby cold planer 10 over a period of milling time using the model, asdescribed above. Controller 44 may also extrapolate the rate at whichthe total volume of milled material has accumulated to determine whenthe total amount of milled material will reach or exceed the amount ofavailable paving material. Based on the amount and/or rate ofaccumulation of milled material, controller 44 may be configured togenerate a control signal for adjusting the milling rate of cold planer10. In some embodiments, the control signal may be directed to one ormore actuators (e.g., actuators 30) to cause automatic adjustments ofthe speed and/or milling rate of cold planer 10. For instance, when thetotal amount of milled material (e.g., as determined by the model) isequal to or has exceeded the amount of available paving material, thecontrol signal may be generated by controller 44 to automatically reducethe milling rate (e.g., to zero) to prevent further milling of surface14. Alternatively, when controller 44 determines when the amount ofmilled material will reach the amount of available paving material,controller 44 may generate the control signal to automatically adjustthe paving rate of cold planer 10 to maintain the target distance D_(T)until that time.

In other embodiments, controller 44 may generate the control signal inorder to generate a graphical object on a display 38 that is indicativeof the difference between the amount of required paving material and theamount of available paving material. The graphical object may includeany type of graphical features configured to convey the differencebetween the amounts of required and available paving material in aquantitative or qualitative fashion, such as numbers, bars, dials, colorscales, etc. In this way, the operator may be allowed to manuallycontrol the paving rate of cold planer 10 while visualizing how anyadjustments made to cold planer 10 affect the amount and/or rate ofmaterial accumulation with respect to the amount of available pavingmaterial. The graphical object may also or alternatively be configuredto convey the difference between the current distance D_(C) and thetarget distance D_(T) based on the amount and/or rate of accumulation ofmilled material to allow the operator to manually control the currentdistance D_(C) so as not to exceed a point at which paver 18 will not beable to repave all of the space milled by cold planer 10.

Similarly, based on the difference between the amount of required pavingtime and the amount of available paving time, controller 44 may beconfigured to generate a control signal to cause automatic adjustmentsof the milling rate of cold planer 10. For example, when controller 44determines that the required paving time is equal to or has exceeded theamount of available paving time, the command signal generated bycontroller 44 may automatically reduce the milling rate of the coldplaner (e.g., to zero) to prevent further milling of surface 14.Alternatively, when controller 44 determines when the amount of requiredpaving time will not exceed the amount of available paving time,controller 44 may generate the control signal to automatically adjustthe paving rate of cold planer 10 to maintain the target distance D_(T)until the desired amount of material has been milled.

In other embodiments, controller 44 may generate the control signal inorder to generate a graphical object on a display 38 that is indicativeof the difference between the amount of required paving time and theamount of available paving time. The graphical object may include anytype of graphical features configured to convey the difference betweenthe amounts of required and available paving tune in a quantitative orqualitative fashion, such as numbers, bars, dials, color scales, etc. Inthis way, the operator may be allowed to manually control the pavingrate of cold planer 10 while visualizing how any adjustments made tocold planer 10 affect the amount of required paving time with respect tothe amount of available paving time. The graphical object may also oralternatively be configured to convey the difference between the currentdistance D_(C) and the target distance D_(T) based on the differencebetween required and available paving time to allow the operator tomanually control the current distance D_(C) so as not to exceed a pointat which paver 18 will not be able to repave all of the space milled bycold planer 10 in the time available.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

The disclosed control system may be used with any cold planer wheremaintaining a desired or optimum distance ahead of a paving machineduring a resurfacing operation is important. A controller within thesystem may receive signals indicative of the positions and productionrates of the cold planer and the paving machine and determine a targetdistance to be maintained based on comparisons of the their locationsand their production rates. The controller may also determine the amountof paving material and paving time required to pave the space milled bycold planer 10 based on the production rates of the cold planer and thepaver. Using this information, the controller may generate a model ofthe space milled by the cold planer, and generate control signals forcontrolling the milling rate of cold planer 10 and the distance betweenthe paver and cold planer based on the model. The control signals maycause automatic adjustments of the milling rate of the cold planerand/or the creation of graphical objects on graphical user interface 86configured to convey visual indications of a difference between thecurrent distance and the target distance, or respective differencesbetween the required and available amounts of paving time and material.An exemplary operation of control system 56 will now be explained.

At the beginning of a resurfacing operation, cold planer 10 may start bymilling a stretch of surface 14 at a desired milling rate before paver18 begins repaving the milled surface. Once cold planer 10 is a desireddistance ahead of paver 18, paver 18 may being paving at a desiredpaving rate. The milling and paving rates of cold planer 10 and paver18, respectively, may be measured in an amount of material per unit oftime, such as in tons of per hour. Other production rates based onweight or volume per unit of time or distance may alternatively be used,as desired.

While cold planer 10 and paver 18 are operating at their respectiveproduction rates, controller 44 may receive signals from locatingdevices 62, 74 that are indicative of the locations of cold planer 10and paver 18, respectively. Controller 44 may compare the signals fromlocating devices 62, 74 and determine the current distance D_(C) betweencold planer 10 and paver 18. Controller 44 may store the currentdistance D_(C) within its memory for further processing.

Controller 44 may then determine the milling rate of cold planer 10based on signals from sensors 58 and one or more of sensors 60a-c, andreceive a signal indicative of the paving rate of paver 18 fromcontroller 72 via communication device 66. After comparing the millingrate and the paving rate, controller 44 may determine how quickly paver18 and cold planer 10 are nearing each other or diverging at the currentdistance D_(C) in terms of the space between them and/or a difference intheir total production (i.e., the total amount of material milled versusthe total amount of fresh paving material deposited). Controller 44 maysimultaneously receive maintenance signals from other sensors, such asbit wear sensor 64, and determine how much time remains until coldplaner 10 may need to be stopped to receive maintenance based on thesignals. These maintenance signals may also include information, such anamount of time cold planer 10 is expected to wait for an empty haultruck 16 to reach worksite 12 before cold planer 10 can continue millingsurface 14.

Based on the current distance D_(C), the difference between the millingand paving rates, and/or the expected future delays of cold planer 10,controller 44 may then determine the target distance D_(T) that shouldseparate cold planer 10 and paver 18 to ensure that paver 18 will notcatch up to cold planer 10 during the resurfacing operation. Afterdetermining the target distance D_(T), controller 44 may compare thecurrent distance D_(C) to the target distance D_(T) and then generatecommand signals based on the difference. For example, when the currentdistance D_(C) and target distance D_(T) are not equal, controller 44may send command signals to one or more actuators associated with coldplaner 10 based on the difference to automatically adjust the millingrate of cold planer 10 to bring the current distance D_(C) nearer to orequal to the target distance D_(T). In this way, the target distanceD_(T) between cold planer 10 and paver 18 may be easily achieved and/ormaintained.

Alternatively, controller 44 may generate control signals that causegraphical objects to be displayed on display 38 that are indicative ofthe difference between the current distance D_(C) and the targetdistance D_(T). The graphical objects may allow the operator of coldplaner 10 to quickly and easily visualize the how adjustments to theoperation of cold planer 10, such as groundspeed adjustments, affect thedifference between the current distance D_(C) and the target distanceD_(T). This may allow operators to control cold planer 10 with greateraccuracy and with independence from spotters, surveyors, and/or otherpersonnel.

As cold planer 10 mills surface 14, controller 44 may also constantlytrack the depth and width of milling drum 26 and generate a model of themilled space over the distance traveled by cold planer 10 during themilling operation. The model may be a 3-D model that accurately accountsfor the volume of space to be filled in by paver 18. In this way,surveyors may be relieved of the duty of constantly determining theprogress of cold planer 10 during the resurfacing operation.

Controller 44 may also use the model of the milled space in conjunctionwith other known information (e.g., the density of the fresh pavingmaterial) to determine whether the amount of paving material required tofill in the milled space exceeds the amount of available pavingmaterial. For example, controller 44 may receive a signal indicative ofthe amount of available paving material from a material productionplant, off-board computer 84, or paver 18 via communication device 66,and determine whether the amount of available paving material issufficient to fill in the volume of space milled by cold planer 10. Whenthe amount of available paving material is insufficient, controller mayautomatically reduce the milling rate of cold planer 10, or generategraphical objects on display 38 that are indicative of the differencebetween the amount of required paving material and the amount ofavailable paving material. In this way, controller 44 may automaticallyor the operator may be assisted to manually prevent more material frombeing milled than can be replaced.

Controller 44 may also use the model of the milled space in conjunctionwith other known information (e.g., the paving rate of paver 18) todetermine whether the amount of time required to fill in the milledspace exceeds the amount of available paving time. For example,controller 44 may receive a signal indicative of the amount of availablepaving time from a worksite supervisor, off-board computer 84, or paver18 via communication device 66, and determine whether the amount ofavailable paving time is sufficient to fill in the volume of spacemilled by cold planer 10. When the amount of available paving time isinsufficient, controller may automatically reduce the milling rate coldplaner 10, or generate graphical objects on display 38 that areindicative of the difference between the amount of required paving timeand the amount of available paving time. In this way, controller 44 mayautomatically or the operator may be assisted to manually prevent morematerial from being milled than can be replaced in the time available.

Several advantages may be associated with the disclosed control system.For example, because controller 44 may determine the target distanceD_(T) to be maintained based on comparisons of the locations andproduction rates of cold planer 10 and paver 18, paving delays caused bymilling delays that lead to the cooling of fresh paving material below asuitable temperature may be reduced or eliminated. Further, becausecontroller 44 may also generate a model of the space milled by the coldplaner, control signals for controlling the milling rate of cold planer10 and the distance between paver 18 and cold planer 10 at the targetdistance D_(T) may be generated. In this way, the production rates ofpaver 18 and cold planer 10 and the distance between them may bemaintained at optimum levels during the resurfacing operation withoutmilling more of surface 14 than can be repaved with the available pavingtime and material.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the disclosed control systemwithout departing from the scope of the disclosure. Other embodiments ofthe control system will be apparent to those skilled in the art fromconsideration of the specification and practice of the control systemdisclosed herein. It is intended that the specification and examples beconsidered as exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure beingindicated by the following claims and their equivalents.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for coordinating a cold planer and apaver, comprising: a first sensor configured to generate a first signalindicative of a position of the cold planer; a production monitoringsystem associated with the cold planer and configured to determine amilling rate of the cold planer; a communication device configured toexchange information between the cold planer and the paver; and acontroller in electronic communication with the first sensor, theproduction monitoring system, and the communication device, thecontroller being configured to: receive, via the communication device, asecond signal indicative of a position of the paver and a third signalindicative of a paving rate of the paver; determine a current distancebetween the cold planer and the paver based on the first and secondsignals; determine a target distance between the cold planer and thepaver based on the current distance and a comparison of the milling rateand the paving rate; and determine a difference between the targetdistance and the current distance.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein:the system further includes a display device; and the controller isconfigured to generate a graphical user interface on the display device,the graphical user interface being indicative of the difference betweenthe target distance and the current distance between the cold planer andthe paver.
 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the display device islocated on the cold planer, the paver, and an off-board computer.
 4. Thesystem of claim 1, wherein: the system further includes a second sensorassociated with the cold planer and configured to generate a fourthsignal indicative of an operating parameter associated with the coldplaner; and the controller is configured to determine the targetdistance based further on the fourth signal.
 5. The system of claim 4,wherein the controller is configured to: determine an amount ofremaining time until the operating parameter reaches a threshold basedon the fourth signal; and determine the target distance based on theamount of remaining time.
 6. The system of claim 5, Wherein the secondsensor is a bit wear indicator associated with a cutting bit on amilling drum of the cold planer.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein: theproduction monitoring system includes a depth sensor configured togenerate a signal indicative of a depth of a milling drum associatedwith the cold planer below a surface to be milled; and the controller isconfigured to generate a model of a space to be filled by the paverbased on the depth of the milling drum, a width of the milling drum, andthe position of the cold planer over a period of milling time.
 8. Thesystem of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to: determine anamount of paving material required to fill the space to be filled by thepaver based on the model; receive a signal indicative of an amount ofavailable paving material via the communication device; and determine adifference between the amount of required paving material and the amountof available paving material.
 9. The system of claim 8, wherein thecontroller is configured to generate a control signal based on thedifference between the amount of required paving material and the amountof available paving material, the control signal being indicative of acommand to: automatically reduce the milling rate of the cold planer; orgenerate a graphical object on a display device indicative of thedifference between the amount of required paving material and the amountof available paving material.
 10. The system of claim 7, wherein thecontroller is configured to: determine an amount of required paving timeto fill the space based on the model and the paving rate of the paver;receive a signal indicative of an amount of available paving time viathe communication device; and determine a difference between the amountof required paving time and the available paving time.
 11. The system ofclaim 10, wherein the controller is configured to generate a controlsignal based on the difference between the amount of required pavingtime and the amount of available paving time, the control signal beingindicative of a command to: automatically reduce the milling rate of thecold planer; or generate a graphical object on a display deviceindicative of the difference between the amount of required paving timeand the amount of available paving time.
 12. A method of system forcoordinating a cold planer and a paver, comprising: receiving a firstsignal a first sensor configured to generate one or more signalsindicative of a position information of the cold planer, the positioninformation comprising geographical information; determining a millingrate of the cold planer via a production monitoring system associatedwith the cold planer and configured to determine milling rateinformation of the cold planer; a memory device in communication withthe first sensor and the production monitoring system to store positioninformation and milling rate information therefrom respectively; acommunication device configured to exchange information with the memorydevice; a controller in electronic communication with the first sensor,the production monitoring system, the first memory device, and thecommunication device, the controller being configured to: associate themilling rate information with the geographical information from theposition information to obtain a milling map for storage in the firstmemory device; receiving, via a communication device, a first signalindicative of a position of the paver and a second signal indicative ofa paving rate of the paver; determining a current distance between thecold planer and the paver based on the position of the cold planer andthe position of the paver; determining a target distance between thecold planer and the paver based on the current distance and a comparisonof the milling rate and the paving rate; and determining a differencebetween the target distance and the current distance an off-boardcomputer configured to receive the milling map from the cold planer andstore the milling map in a second memory device; and a paver configuredto receive the milling map from the off-board computer and store themilling map in a third memory device.
 13. The method of claim 12,further including generating a graphical user interface on a displaydevice, the graphical user interface being indicative of the differencebetween the target distance and the current distance between the coldplaner and the paver.
 14. The method of claim 12, further including:receiving a fourth signal indicative of an operating parameterassociated with the cold planer; and determining the target distancebased further on the fourth signal.
 15. The method of claim 14, whereinthe fourth signal is a signal indicative of a wear level of a cuttingbit associated with a milling drum of the cold planer.
 16. The method ofclaim 14, further including: determining an amount of remaining timeuntil the operating parameter reaches a threshold based on the fourthsignal; and determining the target distance based on the amount ofremaining time.
 17. The method of claim 12, further including: receivinga signal indicative of a depth of a milling drum associated with thecold planer; and generating a model of a space to be filled by the paverbased on the depth of the milling drum, a width of the milling drum, andthe position of the cold planer over a period of milling time.
 18. Themethod of claim 17, further including: determine an amount of pavingmaterial required to fill the space to be filled by the paver based onthe model; receiving a signal indicative of an amount of availablepaving material via the communication device; determining a differencebetween the amount of required paving material and the amount ofavailable paving material; and generating a control signal based on thedifference between the amount of required paving material and the amountof available paving material, the control signal being indicative of acommand to: automatically reduce the milling rate of the cold planer; orgenerate a graphical object on a display device indicative of thedifference between the amount of required paving material and the amountof available paving material.
 19. The method of claim 17, furtherincluding: determining an amount of required paving time to fill thespace based on the model and the paving rate of the paver; receiving asignal indicative of an amount of available paving time via thecommunication device; determining a difference between the amount ofrequired paving time and the available paving time; and generating acontrol signal based on the difference between the amount of requiredpaving time and the amount of available paving time, the control signalbeing indicative of a command to: automatically reduce the milling rateof the cold planer; or generate a graphical object on a display deviceindicative of the difference between the amount of required paving timeand the amount of available paving time.
 20. A cold planer system,comprising: a cold planer comprising: a frame; a milling drum connectedto the frame; a conveyor pivotally connected to the frame and configuredto load milled material into a receptacle; a first sensor configured togenerate a first signal one or more signals indicative of a positioninformation of the cold planer, the position information comprisinggeographical information; a production monitoring system associated withthe cold planer and configured to determine a milling rate informationof the cold planer; a display device positioned within an operatorstation of the cold planer; a first memory device in communication withthe first sensor and the production monitoring system to store theposition information and the milling rate information therefrom,respectively; a communication device configured to exchange transmitinformation between from the cold planer and a paver; and a controllerin electronic communication with the first sensor, the productionmonitoring system, the first memory device, and the communicationdevice, the controller being configured to; associate the milling rateinformation with the geographical information from the positioninformation for storage in the first memory device; and receive, via thecommunication device, a second signal indicative of a position of thepaver and a third signal indicative of a paving rate of the paver;determine a current distance between the cold planer and the paver basedon the first and second signals; determine a target distance between thecold planer and the paver based on the current distance and a comparisonof the milling rate and the paving rate; determine a difference betweenthe target distance and the current distance generate a graphical userinterface on the display device indicative of the difference between thetarget distance and the current distance between the cold planer and thepaver milling rate information; and a paver configured to receive thestored milling rate information associated with geographical informationfrom the position information and store the stored milling rateinformation associated with geographical information from the positioninformation in a second memory device on the paver.
 21. The system ofclaim 20, wherein the controller is further configured to, using thecommunication device, transmit the stored milling rate informationassociated with geographical information from the position informationto an off-board computer and the off-board computer is configured totransmit the stored milling rate information associated withgeographical information from the position information to the secondmemory device.
 22. The system of claim 20, wherein the controller isconfigured to directly transmit the stored milling rate informationassociated with geographical information from the position informationto the second memory device.
 23. The system of claim 21, wherein theoff-board computer comprises one of a laptop computer, cellular phone,personal digital assistant, tablet, dedicated hardware device, or othertype of stationary or mobile computing device configured to communicateinformation via a wired or wireless connection.
 24. The system of claim20, wherein: the milling rate information comprises a width of a millingdrum, a cutting depth of the milling drum and speed of the cold planer;the speed of the cold planer is derived from the position information;and the first sensor comprises a GPS sensor.
 25. The system of claim 20,wherein the geographical information comprises a coordinate location.26. The system of claim 20, wherein the communication device comprises awireless communication device.
 27. The system of claim 20, wherein thedisplay device is further configured to render a location of the coldplaner relative to milled and un-milled parts of a surface of a jobsiteand relative to the paver.
 28. The system of claim 12, furthercomprising a display on the paver, the display configured to render themilling map as a location of the paver relative to milled and un-milledparts of a surface of a jobsite.
 29. The system of claim 28, wherein theoff-board computer comprises a back office location away from thejobsite.
 30. The system of claim 12, wherein the milling rateinformation comprises a width of a milling drum, a cutting depth of themilling drum and speed of the cold planer.
 31. The system of claim 30,wherein: the speed of the cold planer is derived from the positioninformation; and the first sensor comprises a GPS sensor.
 32. The systemof claim 12, wherein the geographical information comprises a coordinatelocation.
 33. The system of claim 12, wherein: the communication devicecomprises a wireless communication device; and the milling map iselectronically transmitted using the wireless communication device fromthe cold planer to the off-board computer.